“Jesuit Refugee Service Indonesia truly cares and pays close attention to our wellbeing.”
Imagine being homeless and in fear for your family’s life.
Now imagine being told you don't matter.
Pope Francis has demonstrated true compassion and prioritisation of God’s most vulnerable by visiting refugees and homeless people upon landing in Indonesia.
Likewise, you can help bring practical support and vital hope to people, like Sophie, who fled their home country in search of safety, only to find themselves trapped in limbo.
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Imagine if your life – your whole future – was at stake because you didn’t fit the criteria of being a ‘refugee’.
UN law only recognises refugees as those who are ‘persecuted because of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.’
It does not recognise people like Sophie – and 13,000 others in Indonesia – who have involuntarily fled their home countries to escape armed conflicts, poor economic policies or natural disasters.
Denied refugee status, these highly vulnerable people are left living in a nightmarish limbo – forced into poverty and homelessness, tormented by an uncertain future and unable to build self-reliance.
To address their humanity, dignity and fundamental human rights, organisations including Jesuit Mission Australia and our partner in Indonesia, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), recognise these most vulnerable people as de facto refugees.
Pope Francis, a consistent advocate on behalf of migrants and displaced people, recently met with de facto refugees hosted by our partner JRS Indonesia.
“They are close to my heart." His compassion highlights the urgent need to support these vulnerable individuals.
De facto refugees in Indonesia are denied:
- Basic human rights – Permission to work – A clear pathway to resettlement
- Access to education
- Opportunity for permanent residency or citizenship
But together we can bring tangible help and the light of hope to de facto refugees in Indonesia.
Please help support the ‘Journey with De Facto Refugees in Indonesia’ program run by our partner JRS Indonesia.
Your gift will help vulnerable children, women and men survive today and build resilience for tomorrow.
Sophie (30) is trapped in limbo in Indonesia with her family including her older brother Brando, her uncle Johnny and mother Nini.
Like many de facto refugees the family has had a long and harrowing journey. Theirs began in Myanmar when, after joining a peaceful civil uprising, the military came looking for Sophie and Brando. Having witnessed the military’s murderous violence, the family was scared for their lives and fled to India.
After a difficult two years, they returned to Myanmar to find the military had seized the family’s cherished home and were still searching for Sophie and Brando.
The family fled once more, travelling through the Philippines until arriving in Indonesia with the hope of starting a better life.
But the family did not find the peace and safety they were searching for.
It’s a grave injustice that people like Sophie are not granted refugee status.
As we support JRS to advocate for refugee rights and deliver practical help, please join us to help ease the journey of de facto refugees.
Your kind gift today will help provide tangible support and vital opportunities to de facto refugees, in Indonesia and around the world.
DONATE NOWFor Sophie and her family, life in Indonesia has been extremely tough.
From day one in Indonesia, the family lived on the streets in a makeshift ‘camp’ struggling to survive day to day.
But with people like you by our side, JRS Indonesia has been able to bring relief to Sophie and her family. First, providing a steady supply of food, then financial assistance that helped them to move into more stable housing. JRS Indonesia also supported Johnny and Brando to attend English classes.
Recently the family received news that they may have the opportunity to resettle in Canada.
Our team is working tirelessly to support them, and all de facto refugees, as they seek a permanent home. We're taking concrete actions every day to improve their lives and give a voice to their rights.
Please support the vital ‘Journey with De Facto Refugees in Indonesia’ program and help ease the burden and bring the light of hope to our most vulnerable sister and brothers.
- $250 could provide rent for one de facto refugee family for one month
- $100 could train a refugee collaborator to teach livelihood skills (eg. tailoring) to refugees
- $60 could provide an emergency food and essential items kit for one de facto refugee
Please join Pope Francis in praying for hope and dignity for refugees in Indonesia and around the world.
